Rivoli Ballroom

Rivoli Ballroom is a historic dance hall and cultural venue at 350 Brockley Road in Crofton Park, Lewisham, south-east London. It is widely regarded as the only substantially intact 1950s ballroom remaining in London, and its survival is central to the venue's identity. The building is distinguished by its red velvet and velour surfaces, flock wallpaper, gilt decorative details, French chandeliers, glitter balls, Chinese lanterns, patterned bars, fixed banquettes and a large sprung maple dance floor. The result is an intentionally theatrical combination of neo-classical, Art Deco and oriental motifs that has made the ballroom valuable both as a working entertainment venue and as a film, television, music-video and fashion-shoot location. The site began life as the Crofton Park Picture Palace, a cinema designed by Henley Attwater and opened in July 1913. The building retained a simple barrel-vaulted auditorium, while its Brockley Road frontage was later given an Art Deco treatment dating from 1931. It became known as the Rivoli Cinema in 1929. After the last film was shown on 2 March 1957, local businessman Leonard Tomlin converted the premises into a dance hall. The Rivoli reopened on Boxing Day 1959 with a large Canadian sprung maple floor, and further refurbishment followed, including a Member's Bar in 1960. The principal ballroom interior dates from this late-1950s and early-1960s transformation. The venue's programming has traditionally centred on jive, rock and roll, swing, lindy hop, jitterbug, ballroom and related social-dance events. It also hosts live music, private functions, themed nights, television productions and commercial shoots. Monthly or recurring dance events have included jive and ballroom-oriented programming, while the room's stage and dance floor have attracted established performers and radio sessions. The White Stripes, Florence + the Machine, Damon Albarn with The Heavy Seas, Kings of Leon and Noel Gallagher are among the acts associated with performances or recordings at the venue. Its atmosphere has also supported music-video work for artists including Elton John, Lana Del Rey, Martine McCutcheon, Katie Melua and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Rivoli Ballroom's screen profile extends from music videos to feature films and television. Its documented uses include Elton John's 1983 video for "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," Lana Del Rey's "Burning Desire," a 1940s-set sequence in Avengers: Age of Ultron, scenes from Legend and The Infiltrator, and television productions including Ted Lasso, Killing Eve and Kylie’s Secret Night. The venue's preserved period appearance allows productions to evoke several decades without extensive reconstruction, while its distinctive decorative scheme provides a recognisable visual setting. The building received Grade II-listed status on 21 December 2007 after public concern that a possible sale could have resulted in closure or demolition. The listing recognised both its unusual architectural character and its historic importance as a rare surviving example of an early twentieth-century cinema converted into a post-war ballroom. It also acknowledged the building as evidence of the popularity of American-influenced dance forms and traditional ballroom culture. Under the ownership of Bill Mannix, the Rivoli continues to operate as a dance, music, events and production venue. Its positioning rests on authenticity: rather than presenting a modern imitation of a vintage ballroom, it offers access to a rare surviving interior that remains in active use.

The Rivoli Ballroom occupies a building whose entertainment history began with cinema rather than dancing. Designed by Henley Attwater, the Crofton Park Picture Palace opened in July 1913 with a simple barrel-vaulted auditorium. In 1929 it became the Rivoli Cinema. The building's public-facing exterior was later remodelled in an Art Deco style, with a broad staircase, a recessed central entrance and decorative pilasters topped by urn-like plasterwork. The cinema's final film was shown on 2 March 1957. Local businessman Leonard Tomlin then converted the premises into a dance hall. The new Rivoli opened on Boxing Day 1959, centred on a large Canadian sprung maple dance floor. The conversion retained the earlier auditorium ceiling but introduced a new decorative language that now defines the venue. A Member's Bar was added in 1960, and the two long bars, the foyer, stage, viewing dais, fixed seating and service areas were integrated into an elaborate post-war scheme. The interior combines several historical references rather than following a single pure style. Neo-classical details, revived Art Deco forms and oriental motifs appear alongside red velvet walls, flock wallpaper, gilt panels, chandeliers, scalloped lights, glitter balls and oversized Chinese lanterns. The foyer includes dark-wood marquetry and mirrored or glass details, while one bar has booth seating reminiscent of a railway carriage and another features an Arabesque-patterned tiled front. This mixture of luxurious materials and deliberately flamboyant decoration gives the room its distinctive theatrical atmosphere. As a working ballroom, the Rivoli became associated with jive, swing, rock and roll, lindy hop, jitterbug and traditional ballroom dancing. Its historical value lies partly in the fact that the building remains connected to the social-dance culture for which it was designed, rather than surviving only as a museum or architectural shell. Live music later expanded its audience, with the venue hosting rock, indie, pop and broadcast performances in addition to regular dance bands and social events. The ballroom also developed a substantial screen and commercial-production role. Its period interior has been used for music videos, fashion shoots, television programmes and feature films. Notable music-video associations include Elton John's 1983 video for "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," Tina Turner's "Private Dancer," Lana Del Rey's "Burning Desire," and later videos by Martine McCutcheon, Katie Melua and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Television and film uses have included Good Times, Kylie’s Secret Night, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Legend, The Infiltrator, Ted Lasso and Killing Eve. The setting's authenticity makes it useful for both period scenes and stylised contemporary productions. The building's future became a public concern in the 2000s when reports of a possible sale raised fears of closure or demolition. On 21 December 2007, it received Grade II-listed status from English Heritage. The designation cited its special architectural interest, especially the unusually intact and luxuriant 1958 interior, and its special historic interest as a rare surviving post-war dance hall created from an earlier cinema. Listing secured formal recognition of the venue's cultural and architectural importance, although it did not convert the site into a static heritage attraction. The Rivoli remains an active venue under owner Bill Mannix. Its business model combines ticketed dance and music events, private hire and location work. This combination allows the ballroom to preserve its historic use while serving modern entertainment and production markets. Its enduring appeal comes from the continuity between place and purpose: the same period features that make it architecturally important also provide the atmosphere for dancing, performance and filming.

• 2024

  Sophie Ellis-Bextor films Freedom of the Night

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  The ballroom is used as a filming location for Sophie Ellis-Bextor's music video for Freedom of the Night.

• 2023

  Used during the UK production of Wonka

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  Scenes for Wonka are filmed at the venue during the film's United Kingdom shoot.

• 2014

  Used for Avengers: Age of Ultron

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  The ballroom is used for a flashback sequence set in the 1940s in the superhero film Avengers: Age of Ultron.

• 2007

  Grade II listing granted

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  English Heritage grants the building Grade II-listed status in recognition of its architectural and historic importance.

• 1960

  Member's Bar is added

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  Further improvements include the addition of a Member's Bar.

• 1959

  Rivoli reopens as a ballroom

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  After conversion by Leonard Tomlin, the venue reopens on Boxing Day with a large Canadian sprung maple dance floor.

• 1957

  Cinema operations end

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  The final film is screened on 2 March, clearing the way for conversion into a ballroom.

• 1929

  The cinema becomes the Rivoli Cinema

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  The picture palace adopts the Rivoli Cinema name.

• 1913

  Crofton Park Picture Palace opens

  [1]Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org

  The building opens as the Crofton Park Picture Palace, designed by Henley Attwater with a barrel-vaulted auditorium.

A preserved, theatrical and highly distinctive London ballroom offering authentic 1950s interiors for social dancing, live entertainment, private events and screen production.

• Venue hire

  Historic ballroom and event hire

  The Rivoli offers its preserved ballroom, stage, bars, dance floor and adjoining spaces for private parties, celebrations, themed events and other functions. Its period fittings provide an established visual environment without the need for temporary vintage decoration.

• Dance events

  Jive, swing and ballroom events

  Regular and occasional programming focuses on social dance traditions associated with the building, including jive, swing, rock and roll, lindy hop, jitterbug and ballroom dancing. The sprung maple floor and preserved interior are core parts of the experience.

• Music venue

  Live music performances

  Although dance bands remain important, the venue also hosts concerts, radio sessions and special performances by rock, indie and pop artists. The stage and theatrical interior allow the ballroom to function as both a concert space and a recorded-performance setting.

• 2015Noel Gallagher secret gig

  United Kingdom

  Absolute Radio used the Rivoli Ballroom for a secret Noel Gallagher performance connected with promotion for his second solo album, Chasing Yesterday.

  Outcome. The event demonstrated the venue's suitability for intimate promotional performances and broadcast-linked music activity.

  Source

• 2007

  Seek heritage protection through statutory listingOther

  Background

  Press concern about a possible sale raised the possibility that the venue could close or be demolished.

  Action taken

  English Heritage granted the building Grade II-listed status on 21 December 2007.

  Aftermath

  The listing formally recognised the building's unusual interior and historic role while supporting its continued use as an active venue.

  Source

• 1957

  Convert the cinema into a ballroomStrategy

  Background

  After the final cinema screening on 2 March 1957, the building was no longer used for film exhibition.

  Action taken

  Leonard Tomlin converted the former cinema into a dance hall, retaining the auditorium while introducing a sprung maple floor and a new late-1950s decorative scheme.

  Aftermath

  The Rivoli reopened on Boxing Day 1959 and developed into one of London's rare surviving post-war ballrooms.

  Source

1. 1Rivoli Ballroomen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rivoli Ballroom official websiterivoliballroom.com